Make your home a haven for your family's well-being

Updated 5:23 pm, Friday, February 1, 2013

Your home impacts the physical health of your family, and it can affect mental and emotional health.

There is much research that family meal time is important, so your home should provide an appropriate place for this activity. If there is a television in the room, make a habit of turning it off during meals.

Because connection with nature is important to mental health, architects try to maximize the views of nature when designing or remodeling a home. Take advantage of any bit of nature outside your window, even if it is only the sky. Outdoor space can yield returns in family relationships as well as individual well-being. San Antonio has lovely weather much of the year, making an investment in spaces that encourage outdoor activity, even more attractive.

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At most ages, we are happier when our spaces are illuminated with natural light, though the level of light that is tolerable tends to decrease in the elderly. Architects place a priority on appropriate control of sunlight. Because of our climate, it is advisable to avoid much direct sunlight in our buildings, but indirect natural light is welcome, as it greatly increases comfort and happiness. Individual families can think about sun control through use of window treatments, exterior shade devices and trees.

In general, a home should encourage interaction between family members while still allowing adequate space for concentration and privacy. Different individuals have different requirements for calm and quiet, and within reason, these needs should be respected.

Because families change over time, it is helpful to be flexible and creative with regard to spatial arrangements. For example, in a home with a single living area, the noise and untidiness of child play can become a distraction to adults. In this case, it might be helpful to move young children to the master bedroom, if it is roomy enough to double as a play area. The adults might be better able to live with a smaller bedroom than with noise and toys in the living area. Consideration also should be given to spaces where children will use computers. A desktop machine in a central area, such as a family room, might be easier to monitor than a laptop or a computer in a child's bedroom.

The sound of a television can be unpleasant for those who have to be in the same room who aren't interested in watching. Think about whether your television is in the most appropriate location for your family.

Eliminate irritations such as buzzing ballasts, flickering light bulbs, dripping faucets and running toilets. These interfere with family relationships and the ability to concentrate.

There are many ways our homes can affect our health and well-being. It is useful to be attentive to these factors so we can try to decrease that which are detrimental to our emotional health and increase the ways in which our physical environment can support family wellness.